There are always people who question what the Bible says about different things, usually things that they want to do or things that it bothers them that others are doing. In either case, if we were to look at the motivation of the individual’s heart, we’d often find that their motives in asking the question are less than pure. Those who want to know if the Bible prohibits them from doing a certain activity usually think the Bible doesn’t say they can’t and are hoping to find that to be true. On the other hand, those who are bothered by someone else’s actions are looking for a bludgeon to beat that other person over the head with.
Nonetheless, what the Bible says about a long list of different actions, attitudes and activities is important, as the Bible is the source document for morality. Even though there are people who claim other sources for their view on morality, such as the human conscience, each of these is flawed, because they come from flawed sources. How can we say that the human conscience is our source of morality, when we all do things wrong?
Yet there are many things for which the Bible is silent, at least in a direct sense. Some of these are not mentioned in the Bible because they were not in use in what we now call the Middle East at the time the Bible was written. Such is the case of smoking tobacco. While smoking is an ancient custom in some parts of the world, the tobacco plant is not native to that part of the world. It was introduced there many centuries later.
So, the simple answer is that the Bible doesn’t say anything about smoking… at least not in a direct sense. That’s not to say that smoking is okay though; just that there is nothing specifically mentioned in the Bible which tells us whether it is a sin or not. There are other things that the Bible does say, however, which can be applied to smoking.
But if we’re going to be serious about this question, we also need to ask ourselves what good smoking brings into our lives. Just because something is not sin, doesn’t mean that it is good. It could be nothing more than a situation where the Bible doesn’t warn us just how bad it is.
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. – 1 Corinthians 10:23
This verse is written in the context of idolatry and things that are done to worship idols. There are a number of commandments in the Old Testament Law, which prohibit participating in idolatrous activities, such as eating food that is offered to idols. This is discussed in various books of the New Testament, including Acts 15:20 and 1 Corinthians, chapters 8-10.
The Roots of Smoking
Smoking, and for the purposes of this article, I’m only talking about smoking tobacco, has a long history, with some scientists believing it goes back 8,000 years. The earliest recorded use of tobacco dates to 1613, when the first tobacco was shipped from Jamestown, Virginia to England. The use of tobacco was a custom of the Native Americans, as well as the natives of the island of Tobago. In both cultures, smoking tobacco was a part of their pagan religious ceremonies.
It is not surprising that those cultures used tobacco in their religious rites. The priests of many ancient religions sought out and used substances which could create an altered state of mind, for the purpose of receiving visions and supposedly communicating with their gods. Mayan Shamans, for example, used pulque for this purpose, a product of the agave plant, as it produces a narcotic.
Nicotine, the primary drug found in tobacco, causes a release of adrenalin in the bloodstream. That, in turn, increases blood pressure, respiration and heart rate, which together can result in a feeling of increased sensitivity to the world around us. At the same time, nicotine activates the reward pathways in the brain, releasing chemicals (specifically dopamine) that increase the feelings of pleasure. The combination of these reactions in the body explains why those ancient priests sought after this drug, using it in their rituals.
This also explains the addictive nature of cigarettes. Like other addictive substances (alcohol, cocaine, opiates and amphetamines), nicotine stimulates the pleasure hormone, making people feel good. Regardless of the reason why someone is seeking that feeling through the use of chemical stimulants, the brain continues wanting more and more of it, resulting in a growing addiction.
Cigarettes Destroy the Temple of the Holy Spirit
The main Biblical reason that is given for why people shouldn’t smoke is that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Destroying that temple is seen by many to be a sacrilegious act, even a sinful one.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? – 1 Corinthians 6:19
While this verse doesn’t directly say that smoking is a sin or even that it is sacrilegious; it can easily be said to imply that, simply because smoking is destructive to the body; that “temple of the Holy Spirit.” Even people who do not recognize God’s right to inhabit their bodies, recognize the destructive aspect of smoking, if they are honest with themselves.
But being honest with ourselves is something we all have trouble with. We can lie to ourselves much more convincingly than we can lie to anyone else. That’s why people who smoke can say that they aren’t addicted, when they are and that they won’t get cancer or any other negative health issues from smoking. They are lying to themselves, more than they are lying to everyone else.
Nonetheless, there are countless medical studies, which prove the dangers of smoking; enough so that Congress has passed a law requiring cigarette manufacturers to put a notice on their packages, warning of the risk of cancer. That wasn’t done lightly, especially considering how much money the tobacco industry’s lobbyists spent in trying to prevent that law’s passage.
There’s a pretty lengthy list of diseases that cigarettes contribute to or cause directly. Things like heart disease and diabetes, both of which smoking can contribute to, are also caused by other things. But when it comes to the Big C – lung cancer, that’s a direct result of smoking.
The Bible speaks of the “law of sowing and reaping;” an explanation for the consequences of our actions. It is clear that good actions bring about good consequences and bad actions bring about bad consequences.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. – Galatians 6:7
Some people like to refer to this as “karma,” but there’s a big difference between karma and God’s law of sowing and reaping. That is, karma is supposedly caused by some universal force, for the purpose of helping us to perfect ourselves, while the law of sowing and reaping is the consequences for our actions, according to a spiritual law, created by God. The result may seem similar; but when we look into it in depth, there is a huge difference.
It is notable that there are no good long-range effects of smoking cigarettes, although they do provide short-term pleasure. That is remarkably close to sin, which gives short-term pleasure as well. So, even if we accept the premise that smoking is not sin, it is clearly related to sin. Those who truly want to serve God don’t choose that smoother path, like Moses, who chose the harder path, identifying himself as part of the Israeli people, rather than as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, even while recognizing that his acceptance of his people would result in affliction and could even result in his death.
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter. 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. – Hebrews 11:24-26
It’s significant that Moses was considered to be the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. As such, his position in society was secure. We don’t really know; but he could have been under consideration to be the next Pharaoh and being trained for it. Nobody was going to question his right to be in the palace as a part of the ruling Pharaoh’s family. Even so, Moses made the decision himself that living in that manner was sin and that he couldn’t continue living like that. He chose to give up that sinful life, in favor of doing the right thing and choosing to be part of God’s chosen people.
This actually applies directly to our subject of smoking, in that whether or not we smoke is our choice. God is not going to send anyone to Hell for smoking. On the other hand, smoking can get in the way of our serving God. If nothing else, it can cut our life short, keeping us from doing things that God would want us to do.
So, Why Do People Smoke?
With so much potential for harm, it seems logical to question why anyone would smoke. Yet some 12.5% of the US population smokes today. While this is down considerably from past years, it begs the question of why people smoke. Granted, as we’ve already discussed, smoking feels good; but that doesn’t answer the question of why people start in the first place.
There can be many factors in play for someone’s decision to start smoking, including the biggest of them all, peer pressure. Teens who want to be accepted will often start smoking because their friends are. This peer pressure has actually passed down through the generations, with every class of students encouraging the next class to follow them into smoking. Hollywood has had their part to play as well, with many movie stars smoking, either in real life or as part of the characters they have played. While this is changing in Hollywood today, all those old movies still exist.
Some people are genetically predisposed to smoking, just as they might be to alcoholism or drug addiction. It has been medically proven that there is a genetic link that makes people more susceptible to addictive behavior. While cigarettes might not be as bad as cocaine, it’s still addicting.
But there’s another big motivator to start smoking; that’s stress. The idea of people smoking to deal with stress goes back at least as far as World War II. Back then, combat rations were packed with a “cigarette ration” for the troops, allowing them to smoke. This happened before we fully understood the dangers of smoking; but even so, when you’re fighting a war, smoking seems like a minor risk.
One might say that people need some way of dealing with stress. That can’t be argued. But that doesn’t mean that smoking is the way to do so. Picking up such an unhealthy habit, to avoid the dangerous effects of stress, is clearly self-defeating. We’re all much better off allowing God to help us deal with that stress. God promises us a peace that surpasses all understanding, in Philippians 4:7. But just how do we get that peace? To find the answer, we must look beyond just the verse with that promise and read it in context.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – mediate (think) on these things. – Philippians 4:4-8
There’s a lot there; but it is literally a step-by-step guide in how to deal with stress. Let’s walk it through, seeing what each step is.
Step 1 – Rejoice in the Lord always – Rejoicing in God helps us change our focus. When we are not focused on Him, it’s much too easy to focus on our problems. The more we do that, the less peace we have. Regardless of what problem we have, God is the answer to that problem, so when we focus on Him, we are focusing on the answer, rather than the problem. We can see the importance of rejoicing in the Lord, in that this short sentence is repeated.
Step 2 – Let your gentleness be known to all men – This may seem like a minor point, but it’s not. The basic idea is to live in a way that people don’t see you as a problem. Why should you do that? Because if you don’t present yourself as being a problem, then people will make themselves a problem to you, trying to forestall you being a problem for them. Letting them see you as a gentle person, even one who is willing to help with their problems, transforms the way they deal with you. And remember, you don’t have to take their problems as your own, in order to help them out.
Step 3a – Be anxious for nothing – This is the hardest part of dealing with stress. We are all naturally worriers, regardless of the reason for worry. If we can’t find a reason to worry, we’ll create one for ourselves. Yet this goes directly against the teachings of Jesus, who told us to cast our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7).
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?… 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… 32 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. – Matthew 6:25-33 (only selected verses shown)
Step 3b – Prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving – Rather than worrying about all the things we tend to worry about, we are to turn to God, asking Him to take care of them. He is faithful and will take care of things, when we turn those worries over to Him.
Herein lies the problem though; we can say, “Here God, here’s my problem. Please take care of it.” But that doesn’t mean that we leave that problem in His hands. Rather, we intend to leave it in His hands, but find ourselves worrying about the problem once again, about five minutes later. So, did we give the problem to God or not?
Actually, we often need to give a problem to God over and over again, before we truly leave it in His hands. The temptation to worry about it, thinking that we can come up with a solution, is strong. Giving it to God over and over again trains us to eventually leave the problem there, rather than taking it back one more time.
Step 4 – The peace of God comes – It is only after we have done all this, that the peace of God can come. The good news though, is that it will. God will give us His peace, in exchange for our problems.
But wait, it doesn’t end there!
Step 5 – Think on the good, the noble, the just, the pure, the lovely, those things that are of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy – Our best protection from thinking about the things which bring on stress, is to think on the good things in life. Paul is merely passing on some good spiritual advice here, on how we can protect ourselves from the stress that causes us to smoke.
Eliminating that stress is a major part in eliminating the need for smoking in our own lives. Since smoking is not beneficial, isn’t this something we should strive for? Isn’t it something that we should desire? Aren’t we better off not smoking, then we would be if we did?
We can rationalize smoking to ourselves, convincing ourselves that we need it and that it isn’t as harmful as they say; or we can find another way of dealing with our stress, turning our problems over to God and allowing Him to deal with them. Receiving His peace is a much healthier way of dealing with stress than killing our bodies on the installment plan.
A Final Word
Ultimately the choice belongs to the individual. Where the Bible doesn’t give specific instruction, we are free to choose for ourselves. Nobody has any right to add to what the Bible says and they have even less right to impose that private interpretation on others. Telling people that smoking isn’t healthy is fine; but telling them it is a sin is wrong.
On the other hand, if you’re truly concerned about someone’s smoking habit, you can take it to prayer, asking God to deal with their heart. That’s His job, not ours. God is an expert in changing hearts, although He won’t force anyone to change their minds. Give Him time and allow Him to do His work.